Shower door track

ABSTRACT

A shower door track for a shower having at least one displaceable door panel comprises a longitudinal exterior track portion having an exterior surface, an interior surface and at least one exterior connector; a longitudinal interior track portion having an exterior surface, an interior surface, a displacement channel for receiving a displacement assembly connected to the door panel and at least one interior connector; the interior connector being engageable with a corresponding one of the exterior connector to secure the exterior track portion to the interior track portion to form the shower door track.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to shower doors and, more particularly, to tracksprovided on the shower frame to allow displacement of the shower doors.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Rectangular showers typically have slidable shower doors along thelongest length of the shower. The showers doors are held in a rail atthe top and the bottom of the shower and a handle is provided on thedoor(s) to slide them and create a passageway to enter the shower. Theycan alternatively have hinged doors which open towards the exterior ofthe shower. Rectangular showers are typically provided within a bathtuband take up considerable space in the bathroom.

Corner showers, adapted to be installed in a corner of the room,typically have hinged doors which open toward the exterior of theshower, thereby creating a passageway to enter the shower. Cornershowers are more space-efficient since they only take up a typicallyvacant space in the bathroom. However, the hinged door requires aconsiderably large empty space facing the corner shower.

In some corner showers, there are two fixed panels and two slidingpanels forming doors which are held in a rail or track at the top andthe bottom of the shower and a handle is provided on the door(s) toslide them and create a passageway to enter the shower. Other cornershowers have four sliding panels with two fixed panels for wide and easycentral access to the shower. The four sliding panels are provided astwo hinged panels for each side and the opening is created in themiddle. Rollers are typically mounted on the sliding panels and areinserted in the rail or track. Corner showers can have a round frame oran angled frame.

In prior art doors, the shower frame is typically made of aluminum. Whenbending the aluminum tracks to create the round track portion for theround corner shower, care must be taken since the aluminum may bend ininappropriate directions under the pressure, especially if a strongangle (small radius) is wanted. This crimping of the rail impedes theproper displacement of the shower doors via the rollers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention provides a shower door track for a showerhaving at least one displaceable door panel. The shower door trackcomprises a longitudinal exterior track portion having an exteriorsurface, an interior surface and at least one exterior connector; alongitudinal interior track portion having an exterior surface, aninterior surface, a displacement channel for receiving a displacementassembly connected to the door panel and at least one interiorconnector; the interior connector being engageable with a correspondingone of the exterior connector to secure the exterior track portion tothe interior track portion to form the shower door track.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in combinationwith the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 comprises FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, wherein FIG. 1A shows a roundcorner shower having two fixed panels and four sliding panels and FIG.1B shows an angled corner shower having two fixed panels and two slidingpanels;

FIG. 2 comprises FIG. 2 a and FIG. 2 b, wherein FIG. 2 a shows a roundcorner shower in which the sliding panels are in the closed position andFIG. 2 b shows the corner shower of FIG. 2 a with the sliding panels inthe open position;

FIG. 3 comprises FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, wherein FIG. 3A shows a track usedin a round corner shower and FIG. 3B shows a track used in an angledcorner shower;

FIG. 4 comprises FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, wherein FIG. 4A is a sideperspective view of a double roller of the prior art inserted in theprior art rail of a corner shower frame and FIG. 4B is a sideperspective view of the sliding panel inserted in the top and bottomprior art rails of a corner shower frame using the double roller of FIG.4A at the top and single rollers of the prior art at the bottom;

FIG. 5 shows the integral piece which forms the track header of theprior art;

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the two-piece track header comprising FIG.6A and FIG. 6B, wherein FIG. 6 a is the exterior portion of the trackheader and FIG. 6B is the interior portion of the track header;

FIG. 7 shows the assembled two-piece header of FIG. 6A and FIG. 6Bforming a rail in which is inserted a prior art roller;

FIG. 8 comprises FIG. 8A, FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C, wherein FIG. 8A shows analternative embodiment of the exterior portion of the track header witha locking plug and FIG. 8B shows an alternative embodiment of theinterior portion of the track header with a locking clip and FIG. 8Cshows the assembled two-piece header of FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B forming arail;

FIG. 9 comprises FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, wherein FIG. 9A shows analternative embodiment in which the exterior portion of the track headerdoes not have any C-shaped portions and FIG. 9B shows the assembledtwo-piece header which uses the exterior portion of FIG. 9A;

FIG. 10 comprises FIG. 10A, FIG. 10B and FIG. 10C which show examples ofalternative embodiments for the C-shaped portion of FIG. 6B; and

FIG. 11 comprises FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 11C and FIG. 11D, whereinFIG. 11A shows an alternative embodiment of the exterior portion of thetrack header which has a central locking plug and an extrusion at eachend, FIG. 11B and FIG. 11C each are a complementing half of the interiorportion of the track header with complementing extrusions at one end anda half of a locking clip at the other end, and FIG. 11D shows theassembled three-piece header.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like featuresare identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The track header of a preferred embodiment is made of at least twopieces which are held together using connectors. The separation of thetrack into at least two pieces which can be assembled into one trackallows bending of the exterior piece of the track to a required anglewithout deforming the track.

FIG. 1A shows a round corner shower 10 having two fixed panels (frontwalls) 12 and four sliding panels (doors) 14. In this round cornershower, the walls and doors are made of glass in an aluminum frame andare translucid. As shown in FIG. 2, the four slidable panels (doors) 14are adapted to be rolled in a closed position (FIG. 2A) and in an openposition (FIG. 2B) by being guided in top 16 and bottom 18 round tracksusing double rollers 20 and single rollers 22. The user uses door frame24 to slide the doors. The shower can further have two back walls 26making up the corner which are typically affixed to existing walls 19 ofthe room. These back walls can be omitted if the existing walls of theroom are covered in an appropriate water-proof material, such as tiling,for a shower. If they are omitted, appropriate seals should be providedat the junction of the fixed walls of the shower with the existingwalls. The corner shower has a bottom recipient 11 for draining thewater. The shower can have a roof (not shown) or can be roofless. FIG.1B shows an angled corner shower having two fixed panels 12 and twosliding panels 14′. The sliding panels 14′ are guided in top 16′ andbottom 18′ angled tracks.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the totalheight of the shower could vary between 170 cm to 185 cm. The slidingpanels of the doors could have a height which varies between 175 cm to170 cm. All the glass panels used for these doors could vary from 3 mmto 10 mm of thickness. The width of the shower can vary from 32 in to 42in.

FIG. 3A shows a track 16 used in a round corner shower and FIG. 3B showsa track 16′ used in an angled corner shower. The round track 16comprises three portions, namely two straight portions 16A (a right-sideinsert and a left-side insert) and one curved portion, namely curvedfront side insert 16B. The track 16 has an exposed surface 30 on theexterior of the shower and an interior surface (not shown) on theinterior of the shower. The track 16 is preferably equipped with bumpers32 affixed to the track portions 16B to prevent the rollers holding thesliding doors from reaching the end of the track 16 and prevent bumpingof the sliding panels on the side walls of the shower.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, straight portions 16A eachhave a length varying from 12 to 17 inches depending on the width of theshower. Curved portion 16B has a length varying from 15 to 22 inches.Curved portion 16B creates an angle of about 45 degrees.

The angled track 16′ comprises three straight portions, namely a leftside insert 16′A, a front side insert 16′B and a right side insert 16°C. The track 16′ has an exposed surface (not shown) on the exterior ofthe shower and an interior surface 36 on the interior of the shower.U-Shaped portion 38 is visible. Bumpers 34 are affixed to the trackportions 16° C. and 16′A to prevent the rollers holding the slidingdoors from reaching the end of the track 16′ and prevent bumping of thesliding panels on the side walls of the shower.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, left side insert 16′A andright side insert 16° C. each have a length varying from 13 to 17 inchesdepending on the width of the shower. Front side insert 16′B has alength of about 25 inches. The left and right side inserts 16′A and 16°C. are placed at an angle of about 247.5 degrees to the front sideinsert 16′B.

FIG. 4A is a side perspective view of a double roller of the prior artinserted in the prior art rail of a corner shower frame. The doubleroller 20 is inserted in the interior portion of the track 16. Itcomprises a roller body 40 and two wheels 42. The roller body 40 isadapted to protrude from rail 16 and the wheels are retained withintrack 16 to let the roller slide in the track. Roller body 40 isprovided with a female member 44, in this case, a vertical cylindricalpassage, to fasten it to the shower door using a male member, typicallya screw which is inserted in both the female member 44 and a femalemember of door roller adapter 46, in this case, a vertical cylindricalpassage which may be threaded, provided on the sliding panel 14. FIG. 4Bis a side perspective view of the sliding panel 14 inserted in the top16 and bottom 18 prior art rails of a corner shower frame using thedouble roller of FIG. 4A and prior art single rollers 22.

FIG. 5 shows one end of the integral piece which forms the top trackheader 16 of the prior art. Two C-shaped portions 50 are used to insertscrews to secure the track to the wall of the shower frame. A U-shapedportion 52 receives the wheels 42 of the rollers 20. The exposed surface30 of the shower track and the interior surface 36 of the shower trackare shown.

FIG. 6A is the exterior portion of an embodiment of the two-piece trackheader and FIG. 6B is the interior portion of an embodiment of the twopiece track header adapted to be connected to the embodiment of FIG. 6A.The exterior portion of the two-piece header of FIG. 6A comprises anexterior surface 60 of the track, two C-Shaped portions 61 (top C), 62(bottom C) used to insert screws to secure the track to the wall of theshower frame which are provided on the interior surface 67 of theexterior portion and two connectors or extrusions 63 at the ends of theexterior portion. Extrusions 63 are used to secure the exterior portionto the interior portion of FIG. 6B. Complementing connectors orextrusions 64 are provided at the ends of the interior portion. Theinterior portion also comprises an interior surface 65 and a U-shapedportion 66 which receives the wheels 42 of the rollers 20 which can bethe rollers of the prior art or any other roller. An exterior surface 68of the interior portion ensures stability and strength of the assembledtop track 70.

As shown in FIG. 7, once assembled, the exterior portion and theinterior portion form the top track 70 of the shower. Extrusions 63 and64 have gripped to securely assemble the top track 70. In use, theU-shaped portion 66 of the assembled top track 70 of the shower receivesthe wheels 42 of the roller 20.

Extrusion 63 is shown to be a hook on the exterior surface 60 of thetrack which extends towards the center of the exterior portion. The tipof extrusion 63 is sloped, with the larger width towards the inside ofthe portion and the smaller width towards the outside of the portion.Complementing extrusion 64 is therefore shown to be a complementing hookon the exterior surface 68 of the interior portion of the track whichextends towards the outside and the side wall 69 of the interiorportion. The tip of extrusion 64 is also sloped, with the larger widthtowards the inside of the portion and the smaller width towards theoutside of the portion. The extrusions are sufficiently wide to havestrength and retain the track portions together but sufficientlyflexible to allow assembly.

Alignment of the extrusions 63 and 64 is such that, during assembly, asthe two track portions are pushed one against the other, the sloped tipscontact and the extrusions bend slightly away from each other until thelarger width of the extrusions grip one another. The track is thenassembled.

The extrusions 63 and 64 can be provided along the whole length of thetrack portion, for increased strength, or only at the end of it, forreduced material costs. The extrusions 63 can be provided at the end ofthe exterior surface so that the appearance of the exterior surface isnot affected by the assembly mechanism of the track.

Preferably, top and bottom extrusions 63 are identical in shape and topand bottom extrusions 64 are identical in shape. However, all connectorscould be differently shaped as long as top connector 63 is made to beconnected with top connector 64 and similarly for bottom connectors.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 6A, the exterior track portion has alength of 1.975 in. The exposed surface of the track 60 comprises astraight portion and two curved portions having radiuses of about 16 mm.The C-shaped portions 61 and 62 have an inside radius of about 1.778 mmand an outer radius of about 3.048 mm. The opening is about 1.8 mm. Theextrusions 63 have an angle of 45° and a depth of 0.889 mm.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 6B, the interior track portion has alength of 1.975 in. The extrusions 64 have a depth of 0.635 mm and alength of 2.790 mm. The U-shaped channel 66 has a radius of 3.429 mm.The superior lip 69 that covers the groove has a length of 11.049 mm.The distance between the superior lip and the top of the U-shapedchannel is 25.273 mm.

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, many variants of theconnectors 63 and 64 can be provided without departing from theinvention. As shown in FIG. 8, the exterior track portion 82 can beprovided with a locking plug 84. Then, the interior track portion 86 isprovided with a corresponding locking clip 88 which is adapted toreceive and grip the locking plug 84. FIG. 8C shows the assembledtwo-piece header of FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B forming a rail, in which thelocking plug 84 is received in the locking clip 88. Other alternativesfor the extrusions of FIGS. 6A and 6B will be apparent to one skilled inthe art.

FIG. 9A shows an alternative embodiment in which the exterior portion ofthe track header does not have any C-shaped portions and FIG. 9B showsthe assembled two-piece header which uses the exterior portion of FIG.9A. In this embodiment, the track is affixed to the wall of the showerand to the other track portions in another way, such as by inserting theend of the track in an opening of the wall.

Also shown in FIG. 9B is a modified U-shaped portion which does not havea round bottom. This rectangular U-shaped portion could receive adisplacement assembly which allows to slide the doors without the use ofwheels, for example through the use of legs on the door roller adaptercovered in a material allowing continuous displacement of the rollerassembly. The U-shaped portion can therefore take on many differentshapes and can be replaced by other means which allow displacement ofthe displacement assembly within the track.

FIG. 10 shows examples of alternative displacement channels which can beused to receive the displacement assembly. FIG. 10A shows a U-shapedportion 100 which is located near the top of the interior portion andthe side wall 69 of the interior portion has been omitted. FIG. 10Bshows a O-shaped channel 102 with an opening at the bottom to facilitateengagement of the displacement assembly with the door panel. FIG. 10Cshows a C-shaped channel 104 which is created within the wall of theinterior portion and is adapted to receive a displacement assembly.

All previous examples of the track header are shown with an exteriortrack portion and an interior track portion. The track header istherefore a two-piece track header. As will be readily understood to oneskilled in the art, even though it may be preferable to keep theexterior track portion in a single piece for aesthetic purposes (theexterior surface 60 of the exterior portion 82 being apparent to theuser), the interior and the exterior track portions could be made of aplurality of pieces.

FIG. 11 shows an example of an alternative track header which comprisesthree pieces instead of two as shown in the previous examples. FIG. 11Ashows an alternative embodiment of the exterior portion 82 of the trackheader which has a central locking plug 84 and an extrusion 63 at eachend. FIG. 11B and FIG. 11C each are a complementing half 110, 112 of theinterior portion of the track header which can be called interiorsections with complementing extrusions 64 at one end to connect toextrusions 63 on the exterior portion and a half of a locking clip 114a, 114 b at the other end to connect to the locking plug 84. FIG. 11Dshows the assembled three-piece header. When assembled, the extrusions63 and 64 have connected and each half of the locking clip 114 a, 114 bhas connected with the locking plug 84 to secure each half 110, 112 ofthe interior portion to the exterior portion 82 of the track header.

In FIG. 11D, the displacement channel is shown to be provided partly byboth sections of the interior portion. As will be readily understood,depending on the shape of the sections, the displacement channel couldbe provided solely by one of the sections.

In the present description, all female members can be replaced by malemembers and corresponding male members modified accordingly andvice-versa.

The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to beexemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to belimited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A shower door track for a shower having at least one displaceabledoor panel, comprising: a longitudinal exterior track portion having anexterior surface, an interior surface and at least one exteriorconnector; a longitudinal interior track portion having an exteriorsurface, an interior surface, a displacement channel for receiving adisplacement assembly connected to said door panel and at least oneinterior connector; said interior connector is engageable with acorresponding one of said exterior connector to secure said exteriortrack portion to said interior track portion to form said shower doortrack.
 2. A shower door track as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidlongitudinal interior track portion comprises two interior sections,said exterior track portion having at least two exterior connectors andsaid sections each having at least one of said interior connectorengageable with a corresponding one of said at least two exteriorconnectors.
 3. A shower door track as claimed in claim 2, wherein one ofsaid interior sections comprises said displacement channel.
 4. A showerdoor track as claimed in claim 2, wherein said displacement channel isprovided partly by one of said interior section and partly by another ofsaid interior sections.
 5. A shower door track as claimed in claim 1,wherein said at least one exterior connector is top and bottom exteriorconnectors on respective top and bottom ends of the longitudinal trackportion and wherein said at least one interior connector is top andbottom interior connectors, wherein said top and bottom interiorconnectors are engageable with said corresponding ones of said top andbottom exterior connectors.
 6. The shower door track of claim 5, whereinsaid connectors are extrusions.
 7. A shower door track as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said at least one exterior connector is a locking plugprovided on said interior surface of said exterior track portion andsaid at least one interior connector is a locking clip provided on saidexterior surface of said interior track portion, wherein said lockingplug is engageable in said locking clip.
 8. The shower door track ofclaim 1, wherein said connectors are provided at both longitudinal endsof said track portions.
 9. The shower door track of claim 1, whereinsaid connectors are longitudinal and extend along said track portions.10. The shower door track of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal exteriortrack portion further comprises fastening means on said interior surfaceto secure said track portion to a wall portion of said shower.
 11. Theshower door track of claim 1, wherein said displacement channel isU-shaped.
 12. The shower door track of claim 1, wherein said connectoris a hook extending towards a center of said track.